Georg-August Zinn served as Minister-President of Hesse from 1950 to 1969. He shaped the state like no other. The reconstruction of the war-torn region and the integration of displaced persons and refugees were monumental tasks that the Social Democrat—and one of the “fathers” of the Basic Law—took on—and successfully accomplished. The year 2026 marks several anniversaries that provide an occasion to remember Zinn: his 125th birthday, the 50th anniversary of his death, and the 75th anniversary of the start of his term as Minister President in January 1951. The event is organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. 

Program:

· 6:00 p.m. Introduction and welcome; Sarah Steck, Hesse Regional Office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation

· 6:05 p.m. Remarks; Gert-Uwe Mende, Mayor of the State Capital of Wiesbaden

· 6:20 p.m. Lecture: “Georg-August Zinn: A Life Dedicated to Democracy and Responsibility”; Prof. Dr. Walter Mühlhausen, historian and former executive director of the Reich President Friedrich Ebert Memorial Foundation in Heidelberg

· 6:50 p.m. From the Life of Georg-August Zinn; Panel Discussion with Dr. Philip-André Zinn, Dr. Georg-Christian Zinn, and Prof. Dr. Walter Mühlhausen, moderated by Sarah Steck

· 7:15 p.m. Questions from the audience

· 7:30 p.m. Closing remarks and introduction to the exhibition; PD Dr. Stefan Müller, Head of the “Public History” Department at the Archive of Social Democracy 

End of the event and opportunity to view the exhibition in the foyer.

Please register by Friday, June 5, at: www.fes.de/lnk/zinnwi (opens in a new tab).

The exhibition runs through Friday, June 12. 

Admission is free. The City Hall foyer is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.